Fluid-pressure power-transmission mechanism.



PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

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. W. HALL PLUID PRESSURE POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00124. 1905.

@V550 y M PATENTBD APR. 30, 1907.

J. W. HALL. FLUIDPRESSURE POWER TRANSMISSION MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 0OT.24. 1905.

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PATBNTED APRfsO, 1907. J. W. HALL.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.24. 1905.

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FLUID PRESSURE POWER TRANSMISSION MEGHANISM.

- to J.VV. Hall.

According to the embodiment of the in-l "UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.I

JOHN WILLLAM ILALL, or LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR To HALLS TRANs MISSION GEAR SYNDICATE LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.4

FLUID-PRESSURE PoweFbi-EANslmlssloN MECHANVISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 24,1905. Serial No. 284,406.

Patented April 30, 1907.

ToA @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN WILLIAM HALL, a subject of the King of England, and residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Fluid-Pressure Power- Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fluid pressure power transmission mechanism of the kind in which two cylinders or two sets of cylinders that conveniently may be of equal maximum capacity are employed and the variation of speed of the part to be driven is obtained by varying the receptive capacity of one cylinderor of the cylinders of one set. For this purpose the piston of. this cylin'der or the pistons of one set of cylinders are connected with. a crank or eccentric so carried that its throw can be varied from maximum to zero in which latter position it operates as a stud or abutment and no movement is impart-ed to the piston or pistons with which it is connected. I

The cylinders in both sets correspond in number andare all connected together to ro. tate in unison, being preferably carried b a rotary casing or body which may be eitliier the driving or driven member. The cylinders of both sets communicate with each other through conduitscontrolled by valves,

the movements of the valves.- being co-re lated with the movements of the pistons, and the strokes of' the pistons ofone set are varied to vary the receptive capacity of their cylinders.V This type of transmission apparatus is exemplified in ,United States Letters Pat- Vent Nos. 626996 and 803584, both V,granted vention hereinafter fully described, the casing or body carrying the cylinders is the driving member and the driven member or member from which the motion is taken is a shaft which extends into the casing through one of its ends and is supported at its inner end in an internal bearing within the casing. This shaft has a crank to which the pistons of the pump cylinders are connected by rods or otherwise.-

As in the apparatus of aforesaid Letters Patent No. 803,584. a stationary eccentric is carried at the adjuster end of the device and .upon it there is rotatably Vmounted a second eccentric; the rotation of this outer eccentric relatively to the stationary one on the shaft controls the receptive capacit-y of one set of cylinders by varying the stroke of the pistons therein and therefore controls the speed given it by the mechanism. The movements of this eccentric also control the operation of the'valves of the adjuster cylinders. In addition to the valves of the adjuster cylindersthus controlled, the pump cylinders are fitted with suction`and delivery valves or their equivalents.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings c-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the line 1 1' of Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the speed adjuster end of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a transverse View partly in Section'of the pump end of the mechanism.

According to this preferred embodiment of the invention, A is the rotary body or casing, A is a sprocket-wheel or chain-wheel fixed to it, by which it is rotated. B are the ump cylinders of which there are three in t e present example; C are the adjuster cylinders, the ca acity of which can be varied, D is a rotary s aft which may be either the driving or the driven member and E a stationary support for a fixed eccentric E1. j

F is an adjustable eccentric controlling the troke of the pistons in the adjuster cyliners.

G are the valves of the adjuster cylinders `vand H H1 the pump valves.

together. The pump cylinders B are made part of the casing and the in one with one adjuster cylinders-C are formed as part of the other portion of the casing the two sets of cylinders therefore rotate in one with the casing and with each other around the axis ofrotation of' the device which is also-the axis of rotation of the shaft D. The pump and adjuster cylinders in the present example have the same maximumcapacity. The pump cylinders are provided with pistons B1 aving connecting rods B2 which are attached toi-a crank D?, on the shaft D.- The shaft {D extends through a bearing in the end ofthe casing A and projects for a convenient dis- Atfan-ce `into it, where its inner end is thus supported in stationary bearings on'e'a'ch side'ofv IOO IOS

its crank D1. The sleeve d is keyed to the inner ,end of the shaft D and rotates in the bearing a. In line with the shaft D there is mounted a fixed shaft E, which extends through the opposite end of the casing to the shaft D. This non-rotating shaft E is carried in a bearinnr a1 in the casing which is by or connected vto stationary supports andv with one another.

similar to the outer bearing su porting the shaft D) and its inner end has eyed to it a sleeve e which rotates within a bearing. a2 on the casing. Between its bearingsa1 and 0,2 the shaft has an eccentric E1 and encircling this eccentric is a rotatable eccentric F to' which are keyed rods C2 of pistons C1 which work in adjuster cylinders C.

K K1 are ball bearings which are carried support the opposite ends of the 4casing which is free to rotate within these bearings.

The bearings K K1 on which the casing turns and the bearings a on each side of the crank D'1 and the bearings a1 a2 on each side of the adjuster-crank-shaft E1 are co-aXial But the bearings a a1 a2 of the shafts D and E are supported by the casing and are independent of the bearings the direct action of the hydraulic pressure between the covers of the pump and adjuster cylinders and their pistons; but all this thrust acts within the limits of the casing and is not transmitted, as in former constructions, to the bearings by which the casing itself is supported.

For convenience in rotating the eccentric F upon the eccentric E1 a sleeve F1 is mounted upon the shaft E and its inner end F2 forms one member of an Oldham coupling, the other parts F3 of which are carried on the end of the eccentric F. At its outer end this sleeve carries a worm wheel N with which a worm- C engages so'that by rotating this worm in one way or the other, the throw of the eccentric can be varied from maximum to nothing and therefore the travel of thepistons in the cylinder C varied to vary the receptive capacity of these cylinders. The same mechanism which controls the adjustment of the eccentric F controls the operation of the valves G. These'valves G move in valve chambers G1 provided with liners G2 and the valves are in the form of sliding pistons having piston rods G3, the outer ends of which are connected to cranks P on shafts P1. Mounted on the ends of these shafts P1 are toothed Wheels Q which are in constant gear witha toothed ring R which is rotatably mounted and carries planet pinions S gearing with a stationary toothed ring T and with a movable internally toothed ring U. VThis toothed ring U has attached to it one member V1 of an Oldham coupling V, the other p art V2 of which is carried by the eccentric F. By means of this 'gearing the cranks on the valve-operating shafts are caused to move through half the distance of the eccentric F when thelatter is adjusted, that is to say, for every half revolution of the eccentric F with respect to the iixed shaft E, the valve-operating cranks are only turned through a quarter of a revolution.

In Fig. 1 the eccentric F-is at full throw and if when it is in this position, rotary motion is applied to the casing, no driving action 'will take place through the gear since the capacities of the cylinders B and C being equal the Huid drawn bythe pumps from the crank chamber J will be forced by them into the adjuster cylinders and from these back to the crank chamber and therefore beyond any slight turningeifort due to friction no useful results will be obtained. When the eccentric F isin an intermediate position, the receiving capacity of the speed adjuster cylinders C will be more or less diminished in accordance with the position of thiseccentric which moves the pistons C1 to a greater or less extent into their cylinders C and also moves the valves G to correspond. When the cylinders B and C are of the same maximum capacities then all variations in speed between the driving and driven members can loe obtained by simply varying the throw of the eccentric F and therefore the travel of the pistons C1 in the cylinders C.

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Assuming the eccentric AF to be in an intermediate position and that rotary motion is applied to the casing, the stroke of the pistons C1 will be reduced. The pump pistons will continue to draw into their cylinders iluid from the crank chamber or center J of the casing until they are full. This fluid passes by a passage J1 through the valve H into a passage b communicating with the end of the pump cylinder. On the return stroke of the pump pistons the fluid which cannot leak back into the crank chamber is forcedv from the pump cylinders by the passage b1, through the valve H1 by passages J3 and J4 into valve chamber G1, the ports g 'g1 of which are controlled by the piston valve G. The chamber G1 communicates by a passage J5 With a passage c at the inner end of the adjuster cylinder into which the fluid is now forced. The chamber J 1 which extends right round the casing is in connect-ion, with the delivery ports of all` the pumps and also with the valves of the adjuster cylinders and acts as a high pressure accumulator chamber, allowing any one adjuster cylinder to receive fluid from any one pump. This is necessary owing IOS i varying velocities of the pump and adjuster pistons. The pumps constantly draw in and try to deliver at each stroke to the adjuster cylto the constantly "inders the samequantity of fluid but this fluid which when t 4the fluid which must be accommodated l somewhere between the two series of cylinders sets up a pressure in the pump cylinders and also in the adjuster cylinders and since it .cannot all enter the adjuster cylinders. it reacts upon the pump pistons and the pump connecting rods are caused to exert thelr power upon the crank D1 on-l theshaft D` which forming an abutment by which the pump pistons are operated gives way andl is turned round at a speed less than the speed of rotation of the casing. In the continued rotation of the casing the valves G are operated 'to permit the fiuid to return to the crank chamber. Each further rotation of the eccentric F upon the eccentric F1 and the further entry of the pistons C1 into their respective cylinders C with the consequent reduction of their receptive capacity, causes the shaft D to rotate at a higher rate of speed and so on with each successive reduction in the receptive capacity of the cylinders C. When the eccentric Fis at its innermost position the receptive capacity of theA cylinders C ceases and as the pump cylinders cannot deliver the fluid to these cylinders and the fluid Yitself is incompressible the ro- -tative effort of the casing is transmitted to the` crank l)1 through theipump istons and their connecting rods `and the s aft D and casing A rotate as one piece. j

It should be observed that the pump-cylinders B and pump-valve chests J3 radiate from the axis of rotation of the casing, .with their center lines all in one plane. The same arrangement holds for vthe adjuster-cylinders C and their valve-chambers G1. This constructionfacilitates the manufacture of the apparatus as to both the casting and the subsequent machining requisite.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.- in a power-transmitting apparatus, the

- combination with a rotarypump-casing, a

pump-cylinder fixed to it, a rotary adjustercasing in operative connectlonwith ,i the pump-casing,v and an adjuster-cyhnder fixed to the adjuster-casing, of bearings co-axial with one another on which the pump-casing and adjuster-casing turn, a `pump crankshaft and an adj uster-crank-shaft,and bearings that support both of.- said shafts, supported by said casings and co-axial wlth but independent. of the aforesaid bearings on which the casings turn.

2. In a power-transmitting' apparatus, the combination with a rotary pump-casing, a pump-cylinder fixed to it, a rotary-adjuster- -casing `in operative connection with the pump-casing, and an adjuster-cylinder, fixed to the adjuster-casing, of bearings co-axial with one another on which the pump-casing and adjuster-casing turn, a pump crankshaft and an adjuster crank-shaft, and a plurality of bearings that support both of said i shafts at both sides of each crank supported by said casings and co-axial with but independent ofthe aforesaid bearings on which the casings turn.

3. In a power-transmitting apparatus, the combination with a rotary pump-casing, a pump-cylinder fixed to it, a rotary adjustercasing in operative connection with the pump-casing, and an adjuster-cylinder fixed to the adjuster-casing, of bearings co-axial with one another on which the pump-casing and adjuster-casing turn, a pump-crank-shaft and an adjuster crank-shaft, bearings that support both of said shafts supported by said casingsand co-axial with, but independent of, the aforesaid bearings on which the casings turn, a sleeve F1 encircling the adjuster crank-shaft between it and its bearing in the casing and rotatably adjustable with relation to said shaft, an eccentric upon the adjuster crank-pin, and a coupling constituting an operative connection between the sleeve and the eccentric.

4. In a power-transmitting apparatus, the combination with a rotary pump-casing, a pump-cylinder fixed to it, a rotary adjustercasing in operative connection with the pump-casing, and an adjuster-cylinder fixed to the adjuster-casing, of bearings co-axial with one another upon which the pump-casing and adj uster-casing turn, a pum crankshaft and an adjuster crank-shaft, earings for the pump crank-shaft and adjuster crankshaft, and an eccentric encircling the crankpin on the adjuster crank-shaft, means whereby that eccentric is rotatably ,adjustable round the crank-pin, a valve-operating crank-shaft (P1) mounted inbearings in one of th rotary casingspa gear-ring (U) rotatable in relation to the adjuster crank-shaft and concentric therewith, and operativeljT connected to the eccentric, a gear-ring T, smaller than the aforesaid ea '-ring, concentric Withthe adjuster cran -s iaft and fixed toit so as not to be rotatable in'relation thereto, `gear-wheels (S) meshin T with both of the gear rings, a rotatable toothed annulus IDO TIO

tion between the valve-.operating crankshaft and the toothed annulus. 5. .ln a powertransmitting apparatus, the

combination of a rotary pump-casing, a.

pump cylinder fixed to it, a rotary adjustercasing in operative connection' with the pump-casing, an adjuster cylinder fixed to the adjuster casing, bearings co-axial with one another upon which the pump-casing and adjuster-casingf'turnv` a pump crank-shaft and an .adjuster crank-shaft, bearings that support both of said shafts supported by said casings and co-axial with, but independent of, the aforesaid bearings on which the casings turn, a pump valve-chamber in thev plane in which the pump-cylinder moves, and an adjuster valve-chamber in the plane in which the adjuster-cylinder moves.

6. In a'power transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a fluidpressure-creating device such as a pump having two co-operative elements one of which is operativelyT connected with the casingv and a Huid pressure power and speed adjuster of the same maximum capacity as the pump, having two co-operating elements one of which isconnected with the casing, and a valve controlling the distribution of motive fluid, of a shaft projecting through the pump end of the device,.a crank on the shaft, a connection between the second pump element and the crank, a fixed eccentric, a rotatable eccentric surrounding said fixed eccentric, a connection between the second element of the power and speed adjuster and the rotatable eccentric and sun and planet gearing between the controlling valve-and the adjustable eccentric.

7. In a power transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a fluidpressure-creating device such as a pump having two co-operating elements one of which is operatively connected. with the casing, and a Huid-pressure power and speed adjuster hav- Y ing two co-operating elements one of which is connected with the casing, and a valve controlling A the distribution of motive iiuid through theadjuster cylinder, of a shaft, a crank on the shaft, a connection between the crank and the pump piston, a fixed eccentric,l an'adjustable eccentric surrounding said fixed eccentric a .connection between the second element of the. juster and said movab e eccentric and sun and planet gearing between the controlling valve and the said movable eccentric.

8. Ina power transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a fluid pressure-creating device such as a pump having two co-operating elements, one element of which is operatively connected with the casing, a fluid pressure power and speed adjuster of the same maximum capacity as the pump and having two cooperative elements, one of which is connectedv with the casing, and a valve controlling the distribution of motive fluid to the adjuster cylin- I der, of a shaft, a crank on the shaft, bearings 6 5 for the shaft on each side of the crank, a con ower and speed adnection between the crank and the second element of the pump, a stationaryfeccentric, a stationary support to which the'eccentric is fixed, a movable eccentric surrounding the stationary eccentric, a connection between the second element of the adjuster and the movable eccentric, planet gearing for operating the controlling valve, and operative connection between the movable eccentric and the planet gearing.

9. In a power transmitting mechanism the combination with a lrotary casing a fluidpressure-creating device such as a pump having two co-operative elements one of which is operatively connected with the casing, a fluid pressure power and speed adjuster having two co-operative elements one of which is connected with the casing, and a valve conwhich the eccentric is fixed, a mova'ble eccentric surrounding the stationary eccentric, a connection between the movable eccentric and the second element of the adjuster, anV

eccentric connected with the controlling valve, and planet gear between the valve eccentric and the aforesaid movable eccentric.

10. In a power-transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a fluidpressure-creating device such as a pump having two co-operative elements one of which is operatively connected with the shaft, a fiuidpressure power and speed adjuster of the same maximum capacity as the pump having two co-operative elements one of which is connected with the casing, and a valve controlling the distribution of motive fluid to an adjuster cylinder, of a rotary shaft projecting through the pump end of the deviceY a crank on the shaft, bearings forthe shaft on each side of the crank, a stationary shaft in line with Athe rotary shaft, an eccentric fixed to the stationary shaft, and adjustable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric, a connection between the movable eccentric and the second element of the power and speed adjuster, a movable sleeve, a flexible connection be? tween the sleeve and the movable eccentric, a movable eccentric connected with the con- IOC IIS

'IIS

trolling valve, planet gearing connected with crank, a fixed eccentric, a movable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric,a connection between the movable eccentric and the adjuster piston, Aa rotatable sleeve, a flexible connection between thek rotatable sleeve and the movable eccentric, a movable eccentric, a connection between this eccentric and the controlling valve, planet gearing connected with this eccentric and an operative connection `between theplanet gearing and the adjuster-controlling eccentric.

12. In a power-transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a cylinder connected to the casing, a pump piston inthe cylinder, a' fluid pressure power and speed adjuster cylinder having the same maximum capacity as the pump cylinder and connected with the casing, a piston in the adjuster cylinder, a valve controlling the distribution of motive fiuid to the adjuster cylinder, a rotary shaft projecting through one endof the device, a crank on the shaft, bearings 'for the shaft on each side of the crank, of a fixed eccentric, an adjustable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric, a connection between the adjuster piston and the adjustable eccentric, a rotatable sleeve, a flexible connection between the sleeve and the adjustable eccentric, a rotatable internally toothed ring, a flexible connection between the adjustable eccentric and the ring, a rotae table plate, a planet pinion carried by the plate and gearing with the teeth of the ring, a fixed toothed ring gearing with the planet pinion, a pinion on the rotatable plate, a

shaft, a pinion fixed to the shaft, an eccen-4 tric on the shaft connected with the controlling valve, and a pinion on the shaft gearing with the central pinion on the plate.

lthe cylinder, a fluid-pressure power and speed adjuster cylinder connected with the casing, a piston in the adjuster cylinder, a`

valve clontrolling the distribution of motive fluld to,the adjuster cylinder, of a rotary shaft, a erankon the shaft, a connection between the crank and the pump piston, a fixed eccentric, an adjustable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric, a connection between the adjuster piston and the adjustable eccentric, a rotatable sleeve, aflexible connection between the lsleeve and the adjustable eccentric, a rotatable internally toothed ring, a fiexible connection between the ring and the adjustable eccentric, a rotatable late, a planet pinion on the plate and gearing with the teeth of the ring, a fixed toothedrin gearing vwith the planet pinion, a centra pinion on the rotatable plate, a shaft, an eccentric on the-shaft connected with the controlling valve, and a pinion on the shaft gearing with the central pinion on the plate.

14. 'In a' power-transmitting` mechanism,

on the shaft, bearings on the casing for the shaft, at each sine of the crank, a connection between the crank and the pump piston, a

.stationary shaft in alinement with the rotary shaft, a fixed eccentric on the shaft, bearings in the casing for the shaft on each side of the fixed eccentric, a rotatable eccentric surroundin the fixed eccentric, a connecting rod ma ln pivotal en agement by one'of its ends wit the'rotata le eccentric and by its other end with the adjuster piston a sleeve surrounding said fixed shaft, a flexible connection between the rotatable eccentric and the sleeve, an internally toothed ring loose on the stationary shaft, a flexible connection between the toothed ring and the rotatable eccentric, a toothed pinion fast on the stationary shaft, a rotary disk, a planet pinion on the disk meshing with the internally toothed ring and the stationary pinion, a pinion on' the disk, a pinion caring with the disk pinion, a shaft carried 1n the casinfy for the pinion, an eccentric on the shaft, an a connection between the controlling-valve piston and lthe eccentric substantially as (lescribed.'

15. In a power transmitting mechanism the combination with a rotary casing, a pump cylinder connected with the casing, a piston in the cylinder, a fluid-pressure power and speed adjuster cylinder connected with the casing, a piston in the cylinder, a valve controlling the distribution of motive fluid to an adjuster cylinder, of a shaft, a crank on the shaft, a connection between the crank and the pump iston, bearings carried by the casing for the s aft at each side of the crank, a stationary shaft in alinement with the rotary shaft, an eccentric fixed on the stationary shaft, bearinfs in the casing for the shaft on each side of the eccentric, a rotatable eccentric surrounding the stationary'eccentric, a connecting rod makin pivotal engagement by one of its ends with t e rotatable eccentric and b its other end with the adjuster piston a hollbw shaft extending through the adjuster end of the device, a flexible connection between the hollow shaft and the rotatable eccentric, means for rotating the hollow f IOO los

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the disk meshing with the internally too-.tiled s i ring and the stationary pinion, Aa pinion on the disk, e pinion gearing 'with the disk pin- I ion,K a shaft Carrying the pinion, an eccentric. on the Shaft, and a connection between the controlling-valve pistonand the eccentric.

In testimony whereof have signed my JOHN WILLIAM LL.

1Witnesses:

HAROLD WADE, HARRY D. BRADY. 

